Apparatus for assembling of pile fabric articles



Y 1941-30 L. E. MCDONOUGH 2,324w09 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING OF FILE FABRIC ARTICLES Filed Nov. 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l 8/ [we/2%." w/maega/Zwwy July 113, 1943.

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING OF FILE FABRIC ARTICLES L. E' M DONOUGH Filed NOV. 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 13, 1943. L, CDONOUGH 2,324,009

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING OF FILE FABRIC ARTICLES Filed NOV. 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 13, 1943 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING OF PILE FABRIC ARTICLES Lawrence E. McDonough, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to Maxant Button & Supply 00., a corporation of Illinois Application November 22, 1940, Serial No. 366l690 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ap paratus for the assembling of pile fabric articles and more particularly to an improved die upon which these articles may be assembled upon metal frames without destruction of or injury to the pile upon the fabric.

An object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for the assembly of articles composed of pile fabrics which will permit the articles to be assembled in the usual manner, but which will nevertheless preserve and maintain the original condition of the pile.

Many articles, such as buttons and buckles, are composed of a metal frame covered with fabric material. These are frequently formed by clipping the metal elements together while covered with the desired fabrics and thus securing the fabrics to the frame elements which are wholly enclosed within the fabric covers. When any of the fabric materials were composed of pile fabrics or fur, this type of assembly was undesirable because the pile on the pile fabric was crushed between the dies by whichthe metal frame elements were secured together.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for performing assembling operations of this type in which it is insured that the pile upon the pile fabric or the hair upon the fur is maintained in its original condition.

Further objects, capabilities, and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of this invention mounted upon a conventional pedal press by which the apparatus is operated;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an ear muff as assembled upon the apparatus, the ear muff being shown merely as illustrative of the articles which can be formed upon this apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a view of the parts of the assembled ear muff shown in Fig. 2 prior to their assembly to an integral structure;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the turret and the two male dies mounted upon it, viewed from the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the first male die taken on line 55 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the second male die taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the female die taken on its longitudinal axis;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the female die taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 and with a cover sheet of pile fabric and frame therefor inserted therein;

Fig, 9 is a vertical section showing the female die in final crimping position on the second male die; V

Fig. ,10 is a fragmentary plan view of the comb and 'a portion of. the female die looking upward from the line A4 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section of the assembled ear muff showing the arrangement of the parts after the final crimping operation.

7 Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a conventional pedal press l2, composed of a frame l3 sustaining a pillar l4. Pivoted to the pillar [4 at I5 is a pedal l5 by which the press is operated. The pedal operates an arbor link I! by which an arbor IB is vertically reciprocated in an arbor bearing [9. Secured to the lower end of the arbor I8 is a female die shown in greater detail in Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10. v

As shown in Fig. '7, the female die is composed of a plate 2| which is secured to the arbor l8. Beneath the plate 2| and secured thereto by screws 22 is a female die block 23 which is cut away on its lower surface to form a cavity 24 and an annular crimping portion 25. Surrounding the die block 23 is a retractable comb borne by a comb frame 25 which carries an upper comb ring 21, a lower comb ring 28, and intervening comb plates 29.

As best shown in Fig. 10, the comb rings 21 and 28 are perforated by the perforations 30. These are arranged in two concentric rows about the upper comb ring 21 to receive positioning fingers 32 on the comb plates 29, There are two positioning fingers on the upper edge of each comb plate and a single one upon the lower edge of each comb plate. The lower comb ring 28 has only a single row of holes about its edge, The two positioning fingers on the upper edge of each of the comb plates insure the stationary positioning of the comb plates throughout the operation of the apparatus.

As seen in Figs. 7 and 9, the die plate 2| supports alocking lever 33 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot 3Land by means of a spring 35 iskept inposition adjacent to the female die so that a shoulder. 36 upon the locking lever 33 encounters the comb frame 26 and prevents its retraction until thelocking lever 33 is displaced from its normal position adjacent to-the female die. The female die may also be equipped with alignment pins 31, which are shown in Figs. '7 and 8 for aligning the female die with the male die when the apparatus isoperated.

As shown in Fig. 4, two male dies are borne by a male die turret 48 which is mounted on the press frame l3 upon a bolster 42. The bolster is secured to the press frame |3 by means of bolts 43 which permit the bolster to be adjustably positioned with respect to-the female die.

Rotatably mounted within the male die turret 40 is a male die frame 44 having a handle 4| by which either of the two male dies may be swung beneath the female die. The male dies carry stop screws 45 mounted in studs 38 and 39 which project respectively from the first male die and the second male die and which are designed to abut against a stop abutment 46 which is secured to the press bolster and thus govern the range of movement of the male die frame 44. When the stop screws 45 are properly adjusted the male dies are selectively brought into register with the female die as the frame is turned in the turrent in opposite directions to limiting positions determined by engagement of the stop screws with the abutment 46.

The first male die, shown in plan in Fig. 4 and in section in Fig. 5, is indicated by the numeral 30. It is comprised of the first male die base which forms one end of the male die frame 44. In order that the male die may be adjustably positioned upon the male die frame 44, an eccentric collar 48 is interposed between the first male die base and the stem 52 of the first male die block 53. The eccentric collar 48 may be positioned within the first male die base and secured to determined position by means of an eccentric collar locking screw 49.

Beneath the first male die block 53 is a male die plate which forms a base to the die structure. The male die block 53 is slotted along one side by an axial slot 54 which receives the end of a screw 69. The screw 60 is threaded through a sliding collar 55 which is reciprocally mounted upon the die block 53 and the extent of its travel is limited by the die plate 5| and the upper end of the slot 54. About the die block 53 is a coil spring 56 which normally holds the sliding collar 55 in its upper position.

The sliding collar 55 is cut into step formation to form a cavity 51 above the die block 53. The die block and the collar are cut away to form an annular recess 58 which is designed to receive the ear mufi' frame.

If the material to be operated upon by the die is of a character which will tend to permit it to slide over the die block and thus be dislocated, the block may be equipped with pins 59 to puncture the material and hold it during the operation of the apparatus.

In order to insure alignment of the male die with the female die the male die may be provided with the alignment pin holes 6|, designed to receive the alignment pins 31,0f the female die.

Forming the other end of the male die frame turret 44 is the second male die base, within which an eccentric collar 68 is rotatably mounted. A locking screw 69 is provided to look the eccentric collar in that position necessary to locate the second male die beneath the female die when the apparatus is operated. Above the eccentric collar 68 is the second male die plate 1| through which passes the stem 12. The stem extends from the second male die block 13 which is formed as best shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Like the first male die block this block is also slotted along one side and to a point near the top of the die block by a slot 14 designed to receive a collar locking screw 80 whichis threaded into meral 99 and shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

to provide a pair of ear muffs.

a sliding collar 15. The sliding collar surrounds the male die block 13 and is held in its normal position near the top of the block by means of a coil spring 16.

The slot 14 is so cut and the screw 88 so positioned that when the sliding collar 15 is in its uppermost position a cavity 11 is formed above the die block 13. The die block 13 is also cut away about its edge to form an annular recess 18 which may be appropriately formed according to the design of the retainer ring to be used in the assembled product. The sliding collar 15 is cut away around its inner rim at 19 to facilitate the assembly of the article in the die as to be described below.

This second male die is also provided with holes 8| to receive the alignment pins 3'! to insure the alignment of the male and female dies in the operation of the apparatus.

As best shown in Fig. 9, the sliding collar of the second male die 15 also bears the comb retracing lug 82 so positioned that in the operation of the die it will operate the comb locking leve 33.

The second male die block 13 may also be cut away to form a recess 83 designed to receive a perforated car 94 when the assembled article is provided with that device.

The specific embodiment of the invention, which is shown in the accompanying drawings, is disclosed in a form suitable for the manufacture of an ear muff of the type more particularly described and claimed in my Patent No. 2,216,954, issued October 8, 1940, as indicated by the nu- That ear muff is composed of a pile cover 9|, which may be of a pile fabric or a true fur. This cover may be cut into approximately oval shape and to facilitate its assembly may have small notches cut into the edges as indicated. The size and shape of the cover are determined by the size and shape of the frame member 92 to which the cover is to be applied. In the preferred embodiment shown the frame member is a light sheet stamping in the form of an oval ring with a horizontal portion and a vertical wall so that a section of the ring forms approximately a right angle. The frame may be cut with notches about the edge of the vertical wall to facilitate the crimping of the frame about a retainer ring when the device is assembled. The retainer ring 93 is a light wire ring shaped to be received within the frame member 92 and is provided with a perforated ear 94 by which the assembled article may be attached to a suitable band to the other end of which a similar ear muff may be fixed in order A fabric liner 95 is also provided to cover the retainer ring 93 and to complete the assembly of the article. This liner is punctured for the passage of the perforated ear 94 through the liner.

Operation of the apparatus In order to operate the apparatus of this invention the female die is fixed to the arbor l8 of the press. The two male dies are fixed to the turret 49 so that they may be successively brought beneath the female die for operation.

An annular frame member 92 is then laid into the recess 58 of the first male die, with a pile cover 9| on the upper surface thereof. The cover 9| is positioned with its smooth side down so that its filaments 96 are on the upper surface. The pins 59 will prevent the slipping of the pile cover during the operation of the die.

With the frame and pile cover in that position the pedal I is pressed, whereupon the female die 20 is brought down into contact with the first male die 50. As the female die is lowered, the

lower edge of the comb frame 26 about the female die comes into contact with the sliding collar 6| of the first male die and forces the sliding collar 55 downward and compresses the coil spring 56. It is to be noted that the comb formed of the comb plates 29 overlies the margin of the pile cover 8|, and as the female die is forced downward and the male die block 53 carries the pile cover and the frame into the female die the pile filaments 96 pass between the several comb plates 29 and are permitted to be carried upward to the female die without being crushed or injured in any manner. When the male die block 53 has completed its travel within the female die the annular frame 92 is borne against the crimping portion 25 of the female die block 23 and the pile filaments on the upper surface of the pile cover are received within the cavity 24 of the female die block 23, as best shown in Fig. 8. The margins of the pile cover extending beyond the frame 92 assume a vertical position adjacent the edges of the comb plates 23.

When the parts are in this position, release of the pedal 15 will permit the arbor 18 to rise and carry the female die upwardly until the first male die is free. Thereupon the turret 48 is turned by manipulation by the turrent handle 4| until the second male die 15 is brought directly beneath the female die. In the positioning of either the first male die or the second male die beneath the female die alignment of the respective dies can be determined by the alignment of the pins 31 in the alignment pin holes GI and 8| in the respective male dies. If the dies are not aligned rotation of the eccentric collars, respectively 48 and 68, and adjustment by means of the adjustable stop screws 45 upon the respective male dies will bring the respective male dies into the correct position for alignment with the female dies.

An ear muff liner and a retainer ring 92 are laid upon the second male die block 13 with the perforated ear 94 lying within the cavity 83 of the male die block 13. A little pressure upon the retainer ring will force the liner and the retainer ring into the cavity 1'. so that the margins of the liner extending beyond the retainer ring will stand adjacent the walls of the sliding collar E5. If the turret All is then swung by means of the turret handle 45 until the second male die block is directly beneath the female die, 4

and the pedal l5 struck, the female die will descend until it reaches the final position shown in Fig. 9.

During this operation, as the female die descends, the comb retracting lug 82 will strike the comb locking lever 33 and force it outwardly so as to free the comb frame 25 from the shoulder 36 on the locking lever. As the comb frame 25 strikes the sliding collar 15 the female die block 23 passes downwardly within the comb. This movement continues until the retainer ring 92 meets the rim 13 of the sliding collar 15 and forces the sliding collar downwardly. As the sliding collar 15 moves downwardly the liner 93 will be forced upwardly within the pile cover 9!, the pile filaments 36 projecting into the space between the several comb plates 29. When the sliding collar 15 has reached the limit of its downward travel by striking the die plate H, the female die block 23 is brought into final position shown in Fig. 9. As the female die block '23 descends, the margins of the pile cover 9| are free to move only inwardly beneath the annular frame 52 and the liner 95, and when the die block 23 has reached the end of its travel the margins of both the pile cover 9! and the liner are completely within the area of the finished article and embraced between the frame 92 and the retainer ring 93. Thereupon the frame member 92 is crimped about the retainer ring as the crimping portion 25 of the female die block 23 forces the annular frame member downward against the edges of the rim 19 of the sliding collar F5. When the crimping is completed the parts assume the respective positions indicated in Fig. 11. Thereupon release of the pedal l5 permits the female die 20 to rise and permits the comb frame 26 to drop downward about the female die block 23 and the sliding collar I5 to rise about the second male die block 13 and the parts to resume their respective initial positions for another operation. The finished article may be lifted from the second male die in the form shown in Fig. 2.

With the respective parts in this position the first male die may again be loaded with a pile cover and an annular frame member and the operation heretofore outlined repeated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for assembling articles covered with pile fabric comprising a female die including a central block and a retractable comb movably carried by and surrounding the block said comb including a plurality of relatively thin circumferentially spaced elements to receive the pile of a fabric between them, said female die being adapted to receive a pile fabric sheet with the pile lying aganist the comb and a flanged frame against the sheet, a male die cooperating with the female die to fold the edges of the sheet around the frame, to insert a retainer ring within the frame flange and to crimp the flange around the ring, and means on the male die to move the comb to retracted position on the female die block during the crimping operation.

2. Apparatus for assembling articles covered with pile fabric comprising a female die including a central block and a retractable comb movably carried by and surrounding the block said comb including a plurality of relatively thin circumferentially spaced elements to receive the pile of a fabric between them, a male die formed with a plurality of pins to receive and locate a pile fabric sheet and with an annulus to receive a flanged frame, said male die acting to force the sheet and frame into the female die with the pile of the sheet against the comb, a second male die cooperating with the female die to fold the edges of the sheet around the frame, to force a retainer ring against the edges of the sheet into the flange on the frame and to crimp the flange around the retainer ring, and means on the second male die to move the comb to retracted position on the female die block during the crimping operation.

3. Apparatus for assembling articles covered with pile fabric comprising a female die including a central block and a retractable comb movably carried by and surrounding the block said comb including a plurality of relatively thin cir-.

cumferentially spaced elements to receive the pile of a fabric between them, said female die being adapted to receive a pile fabric sheet with the pile lying against the comb and a flanged frame against the sheet, a male die cooperating with the female die to fold the edges of the sheet around the frame, to insert a retainer ring within the frame flange and to crimp the flange around the ring, said male die being formed with a recess to receive a projecting ear carried by the retainer ring, and means on the male die to move the comb to retracted position on the female die block during the crimping operation.

4. In an assembling machine, a die comprising a central block shaped to perform an assembling operation, and an annular comb member slidably carried by said block and projecting beyond the end thereof to form a cavity whose sides are defined by said comb member said comb member including a plurality of circumferentially spaced elements to receive the pile of a fabric between them.

5. In an assembling machine, a die comprising a central block shaped to perform an assembling operation, an annular collar slidable on the block and normally projecting beyond the end of the block to define a cavity, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced tooth member extending parallel to the direction of movement of the collar and carried by the collar on the inner side thereof and forming a wall of said cavity.

6. In an assembling machine, a die comprising a central block shaped to perform an assembling operation, an annular collar slidable on the block and normally projecting beyond the end of the block, and a plurality of thin plates extending radially in annular formation around said collar and forming a comb around the block.

LAWRENCE E. MCDONOUGH. 

